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“This is amazing food,” Josie said. “Would you mind if I made a plate for Steph?”
“Of course not,” Aunt Athena said. “How’s the baby?”
“Good,” Reese said. “Should be getting out of the hospital soon.”
“She was born too early though,” Josie said.
“But she’s healthy.”
“She’s tiny,” Josie shot back.
“Maybe you should give her some of this food,” Levi said. He leaned back and tapped his stomach. “That’ll add meat to her bones.”
“Where are the rest of the guys?” Aunt Athena asked. “It’s too quiet here.”
“They’re handling some business,” Reese said as he stood up. “You know, club stuff.”
“Don’t give me that beat around the bush routine,” Aunt Athena said, pointing the potato spoon at Reese.
Reese showed his hands. “I would never beat around the bush with you, Aunt Athena. You’ve cracked my ass with a wooden spoon enough times in my life.”
“Never forget that,” she said.
“Wait,” Josie said. “Is that the spoon you smacked his butt with?”
Aunt Athena laughed. “No. I had to use the thicker one on Reese. His ass is as thick as his head.”
Josie burst into laughter.
Levi stood up, groaning and shaking his head.
Reese looked over his shoulder and down. “What’s wrong with my ass? You like it, Josie.”
“Stop,” Josie said, her cheeks turning red.
“When are you two having a baby?” Aunt Athena asked, quickly changing the topic.
“Oh, that’s, uh… yeah,” Reese said. “Let’s stick with dinner today.”
“I don’t know,” Aunt Athena said. “A beautiful woman like Josie. She’s not going to wait around for you for the rest of her life. Time to become a man.”
“Trust me, she knows I’m all man,” Reese said.
“Reese!” Josie yelled.
Aunt Athena smacked Reese with the wooden spoon on his arm. It snapped into two pieces.
“Dammit!” Aunt Athena yelled. “See what I mean? He’s thick headed, hard assed, and boney shouldered.”
“Just muscle,” Reese said.
“We’d better get to the hospital and check on Steph and April.”
Reese wasn’t sure of the name April at first, but it wasn’t his kid. But the moment he saw the little peanut in the incubator, fighting hard for a chance at life, the name fit. Why? He had no idea. But little April had around the clock care. From the doctors. The nurses. And the MC. Everyone took turns spending time with the baby, reading to her, talking to her, making sure she kept fighting for survival.
Steph went into labor just shy of thirty weeks. It was almost like the situation from before, except this time, there was no stopping it. The baby was going to come and that was that. But Steph was doing good. Little April kept fighting. Time moved forward.
“Here’s your food to go,” Aunt Athena said as she handed Josie a container.
